Reasons why you should learn to read music
February 28, 2010 by Guest · Leave a Comment
Learning to read music is necessary to communicating with other musicians.
Music is as much of a language as French or Spanish, all must learn before speaking.
All musical groups must have this written roadmap before they begin. Since man began to sing, he has invented ways to teach the next generation his songs with some sort of written music.
Before learning to have a musical conversation one must learn the language basics.
It all comes down to if you cannot read; you cannot be with a group that reads. This leaves you as a performer left out of a large portion of musical performance venues.
reading music is essential to understanding theory. All of the structure of chords, melody, harmony and so forth can only be understood completely through the written note. I know you say well, this is boring, but someday you will be so glad you started now.
You can learn music by only reading it like you would a book. When you follow music you can learn a song without an instrument in your hand. If you can read music you can go straight to the book and get all of the basic information on your own. Have you ever learned a song from someone else and not known if you got it right or got all of the information you need? Knowing music enables you to take a piece you have never heard before and make sense of it on your own.
It is fascinating to realize the author may have intended something different that what you have heard recorded. I have many times been very surprised to find out a song was written very differently than I have always heard it performed. In “Georgia On My Mind” by Hoagy Carmichael, for example, no ones plays the intro. If you only know a song because of a certain recording, chances are good that you do not have a complete picture. If you are involved in songwriting, I am sure you would want people to know the way you wrote it. Think about that for a moment.
When you can read music the discovery of new worlds awaits you. If you can read music you can open up a songbook and discover new worlds. I have found many songs this way that are favorites of mine now and if I did not read I certainly would never have found them.
Discover new music you would never know otherwise. Everything you learn is hard at first but soon it becomes a delight and fun. Think of how hard it was at first to ride a bike and how many times you fell over.
You will only become a better musician if you learn to read music. Learn to read music and you can discover music you would never hear otherwise, be able to speak with authority
about the intent of the author and you will have more fun, I guarantee it.
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The Best Way to Sing on Pitch
November 7, 2008 by Lisa Lopez · Leave a Comment
Do you know what the meaning of “tone deaf” is? Some singers unable to sing in pitch despite they had trying a lot of ways to solve this problem. Normally, they failed to identify the different of the musical frequency or pitch from the others. Singers find it difficult to sing in harmony with others or to accompany notes of some instrument.
Do you know the causes that make you a “tone deaf”? Actually, it might be possible as a child you were not involved in enough musical activities. You might not have got the training in your childhood. But it’s not a problem. It is never too late to learn singing on pitch.
In case of singing on pitch, tone deafness and actual deafness should be differentiated. Tone deaf people can hear the music and the other audible sounds like street traffic, noise etc but they are not able to differentiate one pitch from another. There is “ear training”, a special form of training that can help you in singing on a pitch. Ear training can help you in the personal development of areas that are a bit lacking.
There is additional thing to acknowledge that a lot of people can hear music in their head, when no music is being played at their places. It’s comfortable for such people to overcome singing on pitch. A lot of composers have this ability and they can compose symphonies in their brain, without bringing their ear to it. Fundamentally, astounding auditory memories are advancing popularity among people. It’s like we can recall certain smell and taste like a chef.
You have to learn the fundamental differences between singing and hearing is you really want to sing in pitch easily. Both these terms are very much dependent on each other. Dr. Alfred Tomatis, a French audiologist, had established an important relationship between the two terms.
He told that if a person cannot produce a particular sound, he cannot hear it. He gave this reason for the change in the voice of older people. As they lose their hearing ability, their voice changes. So hearing on pitch plays an important role in singing on pitch. You fail to copy the pitch, unless you learn to distinguish it.
You have learn to hear pitch before you ever think about of singing in pitch. You must start from hearing the pitch. If you can hear, you can move to the next step to differentiate between the sounds of different pitches.
For it, you need to find some good ear training exercise or you can hire a good coach to teach you the same. They can provide you an aid to improve your singing technique. Singing on pitch needs lot of practice. So keep practicing. Don’t give it up. It is in your reach.
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How to Sing Like a Pro
November 2, 2008 by Guest · Leave a Comment
Have you always wanted to know how to sing? Have you ever wondered how some people learned how to sing like professionals? Or how tenors can create hair-raising finales? Have you always dreamed of singing at Broadway?
Like any talent, singing is a gift. But you could also learn it with proper technique training. After all, the most important thing in any endeavor is will power. Much determination and want is required of singing as well. Besides that, here are some other things that could help you become a singing sensation in no time:
The Mentor
To learn to sing, you need to look for mentors who could give feedback. Since singing is a performance art, getting feedback is doubly important. A voice coach is important for a potential singer. If you remember American Idol, you see people who believed for the longest time that they had fantastic voices, only to be quashed by Simon Cowell. While there’s value in faith in talent, seeking feedback from mentors could help you map out how to go about with your training. A coach could expertly listen to your voice and help you determine your current voice quality, tone, and range.A coach can give you professional training. You could also try seeking choirs in church or in school for coaches, where regular trainings and practices are done. It would be great if you can sing with a group because it can make your learning more holistic.
Breathe
An important part of singing is breathing. Before a vocalizing exercise, you should do a bit of an exercise by putting your palm on your sternum—the bottom of the lungs; that area where the rib cages meet. For about a minute, observe how your lungs expand and contract as you breathe. Learning how to breathe properly while singing is a bare essential. This kind of training can teach you how to belt and control your voice smoothly and properly. Hold your breath for as long as you could—you’re gonna need this skill if you wanna sing properly. Take note, some songs may have convenient breathing pauses but there are some out there that don’t.
Know the notes
Doing your practices with the notes is best done with a group or a choir. It makes you really listen to yourself and to how your tone works. It helps to make you see areas of improvement. There are many drills that could help the singer learn breathing techniques in singing. You can also do it alone but it’s more advisable to do it with a group of other people. You may also try checking tones if you happen to play the piano. Press on the basic keys and imitate the piano’s tone. Try increasing and decreasing your pitch to check your progress. If you hit the notes the way the piano does, then you’re on the right track.
Pronunciation
Singing is not only about rhythm and flow, but also about words. Proper pronunciation of words in singing helps a lot. Words are composed of successions of vowels between consonants so it’s important that you practice vowel pronunciation at every pitch. This is culture-relative, however, since we do not all come with a singular manner of pronunciation, much more, singing. Always listen to the way singers sing. Having models would help you train in working on songs and their lyrics.
Knowing your voice, choosing songs
We have heard it a million times, and we will say it again here. If you know which song fits you, it means you already know your voice. Many new singers tend to make the mistake of choosing a song that doesn’t fit their vocal range. A coach or a choir can direct you to the type of song that would best work for your voice. A voice, no matter how beautiful it is, may not work on certain songs. Your voice could’ve improved, but your choice of song might be wrong. Choosing a song isn’t just about your taste. It is also a way to show your vocal power. Voices have certain perks and quirks too. Only the right song can display its beauty.
Enjoy
A lot of guides tell you what to do and what not to do. Not a lot tell you to enjoy and be passionate. Singing is, firstly, a form of self-expression. Always prioritize your enjoyment, whether you’re pro or amateur. Practice can be something as fun and simple like singing in the shower or a karaoke night with friends; the important thing is that you sing often. Wherever you do it, you must enjoy singing since it is another way to free the soul.
The key to learning how to sing is not just about knowing the technicalities of singing, breathing right, or reaching the right notes—it’s about love and passion for expression, most of all.
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